Police killed in Haiti city riot

The rebels say they are planning to seize more territory

At least three police officers have been killed in bloody fighting with militants on the streets of Haiti's fourth largest city.

Rebels seized Gonaives two days ago in a challenge to President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

A column of up to 150 police special forces rolled into the city in a bid to re-establish control on Saturday.

Unconfirmed local reports said rebels claim to have killed up to 14 of the officers in street ambushes.

The authorities had vowed to restore order after clashes with the gunmen, who set fire to a police station on Thursday and freed about 100 prisoners.

The US embassy released a statement condemning the earlier violence in Gonaives, in which at least 10 people died.

It said it backed efforts by the Caribbean leaders to mediate the crisis.

'Protecting civilians'

Dozens of people have died in anti-government protests over the last few months in Haiti.

But correspondents say the latest escalation in tension is the most serious challenge to Mr Aristide yet.

He has faced a growing opposition campaign calling for his resignation.

Haiti's Secretary of State for Communications Mario Dupuy said the latest police operation was aimed at "protecting the civilian population".

"Those who are responsible will be punished," he warned.

Opposition fears

President Aristide has offered to hold elections but insists he will serve out his second term in office, which ends in 2006.

Opposition groups are calling for the president's resignation, saying he stole the 2000 election that returned him to power and are accusing him of corruption and human rights violations.

The mainstream opposition is trying to present itself as a viable alternative to Mr Aristide and does not back the uprising in Gonaives.

The BBC's Nick Caistor says they are concerned that groups such as those which took over Gonaives are little more than armed gangs without any defined political beliefs.

The rebels in the city are former members of the pro-government Cannibal Army militia, who turned against Mr Aristide after one of their leaders was murdered.

Many local observers feel that the worst outcome for Haiti would be for President Aristide to be thrown out of office without any credible political force to fill the void.